of scepticism; and sects or schools of irreligion are free, equally with those of religion, to do their chosen work. The result, however, of that work is to stimulate the religious spirit, wherever it really exists; hence the prosperity of your creed (equally with that of other creeds) among the minority of baptised Catholics who are not sceptics. They see that unless they put their shoulder to the wheel their religion must decay and lapse; that is not their desire, therefore they show that zeal which strikes your imagination so much. But, after all said and done, you have shown me no more than this, Cardinal Power, that the religious body of which you are a dignitary, is as free as any other body to come and drink at the fountain among the crowd. You have not shown that you Catholics possess any special privilege in society; you have not shown that you are on the way to attain such; you have not even shown that you really care about it.’
The cardinal was listening attentively, and the urbane sneer which was his habitual expression had already faded from his countenance. As he made no move to reply, the other resumed:—
‘Or, if you do care about it, then I am afraid you are making the fatal mistake of setting down to fancied penitence and reaction on the part of the modern world, what is really the manifestation of its æstheticism conjoined with its liberality. You think people are deferring to you as of old, when in fact they are but patronising you. Get rid of such a delusion, Cardinal Power. You cannot stand a second Reformation like the Lutheran; it would shatter you to pieces; do not provoke it. You have a grand opportunity, and unless you are the most insensate of men, you will not let it slip. Consider well. Competition is pervading every branch of secular industry; is it likely to leave out of sight the motive power of religious sentiment?
